Edinburgh TV Festival Talent Schemes announces inaugural Debbies awards winners
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Editor
| 04 March 2018

What is claimed to be the UK's most prestigious TV industry talent training programme, The Edinburgh International Television Festival Talent Schemes, has just held its inaugural Debbies Awards, aimed at celebrating and recognising new and emerging talent in the industry.

The charitable organisation has a mission is to identify and nurture the next generation of talent from all backgrounds. Hosted by actor and director Femi Oyeniran, himself an alumnus of the Talent Schemes and Creative Director at production company Purple Geko, the ceremony in East London selected winners in five categories.

The Debut Writer Award, for TV writers who have had their first broadcast credit in 2017, went to Sebastian Thiel for his project Just A Couple (BBC3), whilst the Debut Director Award, recognising TV directors who have also had their first broadcast credit in 2017, was picked up by Maia Krall Fry for Silent Roars (BBC4).

The all3media New Voices Award, which aims to find new talent in TV writing and looks for original scripts with the potential for development, was awarded to Shivani Thussu for Paper, a comedy drama about a girl who believes there is something ominous about her seemingly boring office job and starts to investigate.

The Best TV Company for New Talent Award was won by Channel 4, with a special commendation to production company Stellify Media.The Test Card Award, which launched for the first time last year, and gives videographers, filmmakers, and amateur producers an opportunity to submit a fully realised pilot TV show, was awarded to Great Expectations by Pip Swallow - a loose retelling of the famous Dickens story, set in modern times, and told with what was described as a bleak comic freshness and a female protagonist.

All winners will receive a pass to the renowned Edinburgh International TV Festival to learn about the global TV industry, and the opportunity to enjoy bespoke career advice and introductions to some of the biggest names in the industry.

Commenting on the event, Campbell Glennie, Director, Talent Schemes, Edinburgh International TV Festival, says: "We have long been committed to finding and nurturing the very best talent from across the country and a range of backgrounds. The launch of our Debbies Awards is another way of encouraging new talent to the industry, as it allows us to celebrate the brightest young talent coming into the industry. It's always very exciting to help people launch their careers in television and we're delighted to announce our very first winners alongside the launch of this year's Talent Schemes."

The awards also saw the launch of this year's Talent Schemes, with submissions now open for entry. Applications can be submitted via http://www.thetvfestival.com/talent-schemes/and are open until 27th April at 11 pm. All applicants must be over 18. Shortlisted applicants will be notified in May.